05 Oct FAST FOOD “T3” LEADERSHIP: MCDONALD’S RAY KROC

Ray Kroc, the inspirational founder of the McDonald’s Corporation and its CEO from 1968-1984, was born in Oak Park, IL on this date in 1902.  A transformational leader who changed America’s dining lifestyle, Kroc is credited turning McDonald’s into the world’s most successful fast food corporation.  He was also owner of the San Diego Padres of MLB from 1974 until his death in 1984, when the Padres appeared in their first World Series. His motivational style included: 

• TEAMWORK: “None of Us is as Good as All of Us.”  Kroc was a hard charging perfectionist when it came to McDonald’s food and service, but also a strong proponent of teamwork; the backbone behind the group preparation method that McDonald’s still uses today. “I put the hamburger on the assembly line.” Also highlighting Kroc’s spirit of teamwork was his volunteer service as an ambulance driver during WWI, during which time he met Walt Disney.  

• TONE: Optimistic, confident, philanthropic.  The Kroc Foundation supports research, treatment and education about various medical conditions.  It is best known for establishing the Ronald McDonald House, a nonprofit organization that provides free housing for families  close to medical facilities where their children receive treatment.   There are currently over 300 Ronal McDonald Houses in more than 50 countries. 

• TENACITY: Kroc relentlessly focused on details: “I didn’t invent the hamburger. I just took the hamburger business more seriously than anyone else.”  He even established a “Hamburger University” for restaurant management in Chicago to underscore his commitment to education, training and franchising.   Ray was fond of saying, “Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get.” 

By the time of Kroc’s death, McDonald’s had 7,500 outlets in the United States and in 31 other countries and territories with system-wide sales of more than $8 billion.  It’s gone up considerably since.   His actionable credo of “Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value” became the mantra for all McDonald’s owners, establishing a benchmark of leadership for the industry. I appreciate the consistency of knowing that when delivering a keynote speech at home or abroad, I can count on entering a McDonald’s and receiving the identical hamburger and fries whether it’s in Maryland or Malaysia.  As an employer and humanitarian, Kroc knew the recipe for success included “Teamwork, Tone, Tenacity”™  and he applied them like few others to entrepreneurial success and charitable giving! 

– Rear Admiral Paul Becker, USN (Ret) is a leadership expert.  He is the CEO of The Becker T3 Group, a platform for his motivational and national security keynote speaking. A former Naval Intelligence Officer, he’s successfully led large, diverse, high-performing teams afloat and ashore in peace, crisis and combat.  In 2016, The Naval Intelligence Community established “The Rear Admiral Becker ‘Teamwork, Tone, Tenacity Award for Leadership” in his honor